Another Big Vehicle for Newsmax TV. On the heels of the recent announcement by Newsmax that its Newsmax TV programming will be added to the channel lineup at DirecTV, comes today’s announcement that the programming will also be available on DISH Network beginning with a soft launch on June 16. Newsmax Media says this addition of 35 million homes and businesses puts Newsmax in more than one-third of U.S. cable and satellite homes. Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy comments, “Newsmax TV’s agreement with DISH further accelerates our path to initial carriage in 40% of U.S. homes.” Ruddy adds that he expects Newsmax TV’s distribution to grow by the time the channel, “which targets the interests and needs of an underserved Baby Boomer audience,” officially launches this fall. About the content to be seen on Newsmax TV, the company states that “Newsmax TV differentiates itself from other news services by providing independent news with a ‘mainstream conservative’ tilt, though it will be open to all points of view. More than just a politically focused channel, Newsmax TV will provide a full range of informational programming and lifestyle content for Boomers in the areas of health, finance, and personal well-being.” Newsmax TV will soft launch 24/7 with nine hours of live programming, expanding to 18 hours of live programming by year’s end. The programming will place an emphasis on practical, useful information that is relevant to the lives of a large, underserved adult audience. In addition to securing the main satellite television providers, Newsmax TV also plans a major OTT platform rollout, with penetration estimated in excess of 100 million iOS and Android smart devices.

Talkers New York 2014 Sold Out. The extra space provided by a new venue notwithstanding, registrations for Talkers New York 2014, the 17th annual installment of talk radio’s longest running national convention are sold out. According to TALKERS VP/executive editor Kevin Casey, “With nine more days to go and significantly more space than the last five gatherings, it is extremely gratifying to see the tremendous support being given to this exciting and productive conference as indicated by yet another advance sellout. All of us at TALKERS are grateful to the industry and we will do our best to make this the best annual convention we’ve ever presented. Considering the stellar lineup of speakers and powerful roster of registrants from all sectors of talk media, I have no doubt this will be the ‘big’ one that they’ll be talking about for years to come.” Talkers New York 2014 takes place on Friday, June 20 at the iconic India House (an official landmark) located in the heart of New York’s historic Financial District. For up-to-the minute agenda details and sponsorship opportunities, please click here.

Three National Murrow Awards for CBS Radio News. Among the radio news networks, CBS Radio News was a big winner, garnering three national Edward R. Murrow awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association. CBS Radio News was honored for: Best Newscast, Best Continuing Coverage and Best Writing. CBS Radio News vice president Harvey Nagler comments, “As I have said before, these awards are an acknowledgment of the consistently outstanding work our staff performs day in and day out. It is a tribute to them that when the biggest story of the year occurred CBS once again was the place to go.” Nagler is referring to the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 for which the network won Best Newscast anchored by Steve Kathan and Paul Farry. That news event was also the subject of coverage for which it won the Continuing Coverage award. Bob Schieffer, anchor of “Face the Nation” and CBS News chief Washington correspondent, won in the Writing category for his commentary about Washington legislators. The awards will be presented at a dinner in New York on Monday, October 6.

ESPN Radio Content Available on iTunes Radio.TALKERS magazine tipped readers that this deal was coming and now it’s official. The deal between sports giant ESPN and Apple’s iTunes Radio makes ESPN Radio talk shows and events available on iTunes Radio and, according to a press release, will bring “expanded local station content to its listeners in the future.” The live ESPN Radio network stream being offered includes: Mike & Mike, “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” “SVP & Russillo,” the Dan LeBatard show, “Sedano & Stink,” and the Freddie Coleman show. The deal also includes live sports events such as the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Major League Baseball including the playoffs and World Series, season-long college football, US Open Golf, and college basketball. Tonight’s Atlanta Braves vs. Colorado Rockies game will be the first live sporting event to be heard. ESPN SVP Traug Keller comments, “We are thrilled to make our industry-leading sports talk and championship play-by-play content available to fans via iTunes Radio. And we are excited to partner with Apple to expand our digital reach. Our fans can look forward to expanded ESPN Audio offerings on both the national and local sports levels in the future.”

TheBlaze Radio Network Fourth of July Special Available. A Fourth of July news/talk radio special is being made available via Premiere Networks. The program is a three-hour show produced by Glenn Beck’s TheBlaze Radio Network titled, “TheBlaze Radio Network’s Independence: The Power of the Individual” hosted by Doc Thompson and Skip LaCombe. Premiere says the show examines “the power of the individual and the importance of self-governance, as well as a look at the Founding Fathers and the Declaration of Independence.” The special will also feature guest appearances by several hosts, writers and editors of TheBlaze and TheBlaze.com, including S.E. Cupp, Will Cain, Mike Slater, Mike Opelka, Jay Severin, Mike Broomhead, Chris Salcedo and others. The show is available for air from July 4-6.

Entercom Launches ’95.7 ESPN’ in Rochester Market. The debut of the sports talk signal in the Rochester market happens on translator W239BF at 95.7 — formerly licensed to Greece, New York on the northwestern edge of the market. Entercom was able to move the signal a bit southeast and change the city of license to Rochester. It purchased the translator from Family Life Ministries for $150,000.

Good Things Happen in Miami. Just ask Mike Greenberg (left) and Mike Golic (right) about the fun in the sun in Miami. The ESPN morning duo Mike & Mike broadcast live from Lummus Park in Miami today (6/11) as they cover the NBA Finals and were visited by model Erin Heatherton (center) on the set. Heatherton – a Chicago native – talked about the comparisons between Michael Jordan and LeBron James as well as the Spurs’ game 3 victory and meeting Mike & Mike at the NBA All-Star Game.

Child Immigrant Refugees Case/Amnesty Proposals, Hillary Clinton Book, Bergdahl Deal/Terror Suspects Return to Battle, Dave Brat-Eric Cantor Primary, Climate Change Debate, and NBA-NHL Finals Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (6/10). The influx of minor refugees pouring across the U.S. borders and renewed debate over amnesty for illegal aliens; Hillary Clinton’s newest memoir and her statements about the family’s financial status upon leaving the White House; the Bowe Bergdahl-terror suspect swap and concerns over released prisoners returning to the terror battlefield; the Virginia primary race between House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Tea Party-backed candidate Dave Brat; ongoing debate over climate change and global carbon emissions policy; and the NBA and NHL finals were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.